Spring balancer



E. PEREMI SPRING BALANCER Dec. 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1949 INVENTOR Edmund feremi WaM-r ATTOR Dc. 23, 1952 E. PEREMI SPRING BALANCER 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 6, 1949 INVENTOR Edmund feremi E. PEREMI SPRING BALANCER Dec. 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet, 4

Filed Sept. 6, 1949 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 SPRING BALANCER Edmund Peremi, Bayside, N. Y., assignor to General Bronze Corporation, Garden City,,N. Y.

Application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,205

This invention relates to a springbalancer for exerting a substantially constant force on two spaced relatively movable objects as the objects are relatively moved toward or away from one another and is particularly adapted to be used as a window balancer for a slidable window sash. The present application is a continuation-'in-pa-rt of my pending application, Serial No. 31,180, filed June 4, 1948, now Patent No. 2,604,655 issued July 29, 1952.

It is an object of the present invention to pro vide an improved spring balancer which will effectively balance the weight of a movable object in various positions of its movement. It is another object of the invention to provide an improved balancer of this type which comprises a single spring that exerts interrelated torsional and tensional forces upon the movable object and 'which, when used as a window balancer, will sustain the weight of a slidable sash in various positions of vertical adjustment of the sash. It is still another object of the invention to provide improved means for adjusting the torsion of the spring of such a balancer. Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereafter.

The many objects and advantages of the present invention may best be appreciated and understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate spring balancers incorporating several modifications of the present inventionand wherein: Y

Figurel is a vertical sectional elevation of a spring balancer showing the general arrangement of the combined tension and torsion spring and the spiral actuator;

' Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the 'line"2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the manner in which the spring is connected to the upper bracket? Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 4 and showing the interrelationship between the key-way and the spiral -ac tuator;

Figure 4 is a right-hand elevation of the lower portion of the balancer showing the manner in which'the lower end of the spring is secured in position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower portion of the balancer, similar to Figure 1, but showing further details of the balancer construction Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the balancer of Figure 1 showing the pawl and ratchet device for adjusting the spring torsion;

9 Claims. (Cl. 16-197) .screw (not shown) Figure 7 is a vertical sectional elevation of a modified form of balancer;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line-88 of Figure 7 and showing the" manner of attachment of the spring to the upper bracket;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line'9'9 of Figure 7 and showing the interrelationship between the key-way and spiral actuator in the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on the line l0l0 of Figure 11 and showing details of the spring torsion adjusting mechanism;

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower portion of the balancer of Figure 7 showing other details of the torsion adjusting mechanism;

Figure 12 is a vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 11, i. e., at right angles to Figure Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the balancer shown in Figure 11;. I

Figure 14 is a vertical sectional elevation 0 still another modification of the balancer of Figure 1; and

Figure 15 is a bottom plan view of the modification of Figure 14.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, the balancer there shown comprises an upper bracket l0 having a hole I 2 therein by means of which the balancer may be secured to a window frame by any suitable-means such as a At the lower end of the balancer, there is a second bracket [4 having a hole l6 therein by means of which the lower bracket may be secured in any suitable manner to the window sash. Extending between the brackets l 0 and [4 there is a combined tension and torsion spring l8 which is efiectively connected at its ends to the two brackets respectively.

The upper end of spring I8 is rotatably secured to upper bracket ID in the following manner. In the bottom of bracket lllthere is a hole 22 which receives a pin having ahead 24 of greater diameter than the hole 22. The head 24 has a peripheral under surface that rests on a washer 26 which is in turn supported by the bottom portion of bracket 10 in such manner that the pin 20 is rotatably mounted in the bracket. Secured to the lower portion of pin '20 by means of a rivet 28 there is a downwardly extending tube or sleeve 30 which is located within the spring [8 and assists in maintaining proper axial alignment of the spring. At its upper end the tube 30 is provided with a pair of diametrically align-ed vertical slots 32 (see also Figure 2). The

slots 32 extend somewhat below the bottom of pin and thus define therewith a pair of holes through which the bent upper end 34 of the spring I8 is passed. Thus the upper end of the spring I8 is effectively secured to the tube and pin '26, and through the pin 20 is mounted for rotation with respect to the bracket NJ. The tube 30 and upper end of spring [8 are enclosed in an outer casing 36 which is fixed at its upper end to the bracket l0.

Referring now to Figure 5, as well as to Figure 1, extending into the tube 39 and centrally positioned therein is a spiral actuator 44 that cooperates with the tube in a manner persently to be described to rotate the tube and upper end of spring l8. Secured to the lower end of tube 30 there is a short sleeve 38 having inwardlyprojecting portions 39 which form a slot or key-way 42 through which the actuator 44 passes'and which has a size and shape conforming with that of the cross-section ofthe actuator. The'projections of sleeve 1 3B :engagethe spiral surfaces offithe actuator 44 to produce; relative'rotative movement of the tube and actuator as the actuator is moved axially with respect to the tube. The; relationship'between the actuator-4 and the projections lilpof sleeve this best shown-in Figure 3' of the drawings.

Still referring to Figure V5,.the actuator is eifectively'secured at its lower endto the bracket 14; Passing through theibracket l4 androtatably mounted therein; is aforked torsion adjusting pin Athaving a head 48- that engages the undersideof bracket M. The lower end of actuator 54 is positioned'in the forked end of pin and secured thereto by a rivet 513, which also serves to secure-to the-pin 45a collar 52. Theicollar 52 and head 48. cooperate to limit axial; movement of the pin 45 with respect to bracket [4 and the collar 52 also serves to ensureproper lateral positioning of the lower portion of spring 18.;

Referring now to-Figures ,4 and 5, thebracket I4 is provided with a vertical springrretaining member 54 having a vertical slot 55 therein. The lower end 58 of spring [Sis positioned near the bottom of slot 53 and a screw Gills-threaded into theslot t'o prevent,.substantially, vertical movement of the lower end of the spring. Thus the lower end of the spring iseffectively maintained in substantially fixedrelation with respect to the bracket 14.

At the bottom of? the balancer, mechanism. is provided for adjusting the spring. torsion. As best shown in Figure 6, thehead 45 of adjusting pin 46 is provided with peripheral notches 62 to form a ratchet that is normally engaged by a pawlin" the form-of are'silient arm 64. The pawl 64 extends through a grQOve 66 in the underside of bracketl iand (seeFigures l and 4) terminates in an upwardly bent end 68 that is secured in a hole luof the-bracket It. The ratchet and pawl are normally urged into engagement by the torsion of spring l8; As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the head 48* has a kerflZ inwhich a screw driver orother similar tool may be inserted tofacilitate rotation-ofhead 48 when it is desired to adjust the spring torsion. It is evident that rotation of head 48 will rotate the spiral actuator and tube 39, which in turn rotates the upper end of the spring, Since the lower end of thespring is fixed to bracket It, rotation of the upper end of the spring varies the spring torsion.

As indicated in Figure 1, the spiral actuator is composed of two spiral sections that are wound in Opposite sense. Thus the direction of the spiral reverses at point M which is normally approximately at the mid point of the actuator. he pitch of the spiral is a minimum at the ends of the actuator and becomes infinitely large at the point 74.

The operation of the device is as follows: The characteristics of spring 58 are normally so selected that the spring tension is approximately equal to one-half the weight of the window sash (assuming that two balancers are used for each sash) when the sash is midway between its uppermost and lowermost positions. With the sash in its uppermost position, the spring is given a substantial pre-torsion. This torsion acts through tube. 33 and projections til to exert on actuator 44 an upward force, herein referred to as the eifective torsional force, which tends to support the weight of the sash.

As thebracket i4 is moved downwardly with the sash from its uppermost position, the tension of spring i3 increases proportionately to this downward movement. At the same time the tube fifi is rotated counter-clockwise (as viewed from above) with respect to actuator M-andthus winds up the spring I 8. Simultaneously the pitch of the spiral of "the portion of the actuator engage ing thekey-way increases. The relationship be-. tween the parts issuch'that the effective torsional force decreases notwithstanding theincrease in torsion of the spring. The pitch of the spiral is so selectedthat this decrease in efiective torsional force is approximately. proportional to the increase in springtension due to downward movement of bracket Hi.

When the. actuator 46 engages thekey-way 42 at point-7d, the effective torsional force becomes zero and the sash is supported by tension of the spring alone. Thereafter, the direction of the spiral reversesand-the, effective torsional. force acts in adownward.directionto reduce-thetensional force-exertedby the spring onthebracket I 4 and window sash; Thusthe. netforce that the spring. exerts on thesash is maintained substantially constant throughout the range of movement of the sash. As described above,.the-torsion of the spring may bereadily adjusted by rotating the head 46 of. pinlli with ascrew driver or other suitable tool.

Referring now to Figures 7-l3 .of the drawings, a modified form of balancer is shownwhichis particularly useful with relatively small windows having relatively light weightsashes. Thebalancer of Figure 7 comprises a spiral actuator 80, spring &2, and tube 84, rotatably. mounted inan upper bracketBB, all similar to the correspond.

ing parts of the embodiment of Figure 1Q The upper bracket may be secured to a window frame in any suitable manner such as by means of the screw 88. The lower end of the tube 84 is crimped (see Figures 7 and 9) to forma slot or keyway 98 generally conforming with the shape of the cross-section of the spiral actuator and functioning in the same manner as the keyway 22 of Figure l.

The principal difference between the embodiments of Figure '7 and Figure 1 is in the mechanism provided for adjusting spring tension. Still referring to Figure 7, the lower end of the balancer is secured b means of an L-shaped bracket 92 and a screw 94 to the window sash. The bracket 82 is in turn secured by the. screw 96 to a plate 38 having an upset portion I forming a hook that engages a second hook lfi2 formed in the lower end of the spring 82. Thus the lower end of the spring is efiectively secured 'over the projections H8. and corresponding recesses I25 effectively pro- 'vide a latch to maintain the desired adjustment through'hook il flb; Plate as and bracket 92 to the window sash.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the lower end of v the actuator extends through a hole I 04 in the plate 80 and through a slot I05 of an adjusting button I00. The upper surface of button I06 normally-bears against the underside of plate 98. At its lower extremity, the actuator 80 is provided with a pair of wings I08 that bear against the button I06 and cooperate therewith to limit upward movement of the actuator.

Surrounding the actuator just above the plate 98, there is a spring H0 which is under compression to urge the actuator upwardly. At its lower end spring IIO bears against a washer II 2 which in turn bears against the upper surfaceupward movement is permitted by'the adjusting button I06 and wings I08, and the button I06 is held resiliently against the lower surface of plate 98 by the spring.

As best shown in Figure 12, the plate IIO is swaged at two points to provide downward projections II 8 that engage corresponding recesses I in the upper surface 'of adjusting button I00. "The projections H8 and corresponding recesses I20 normally coact to prevent rotation of button I86 and actuator 80 with respect to plate IIO. A kerf I22 is formed in the bottom of adjusting button I06 to receive a screw driver or similar tool. When it is desired to change the tension of spring 32, a suitable tool is inserted in the kerf I22 and the button I05 and actuator 80 rotated. It is apparent that as the button is rotated, spring IIO will be compressed slightly and the upper surface of the button will ride The projections'-ll8 of spring torsion. The balancing operation of -the"embodiment of Figures 7-13 is substantially similar to that of Figures 1-6 previously described. a

Referring now to Figures 14 and 15 of the drawmg, the embodiment there shown difiers from those previously described in that the spring I i'smounted in upper and lower spring adapters I32 and I34 respectively. The adapter I32 is rotatably mounted'onu l pper bracket I36 by means of a rivet I30 and isprovided with a peripheral groove I40 in which the upper end of spring I30 is secured. The lower adapter I34 is secured to alower bracket M2 and is provided with a pcripheral groove I M in which the lower end of spring I30 is secured. The adapters 32 and I30 provide additional support for the ends of the spring in cases where such support is necessary or desirable.

The balancer of Figure 14 includes an actuator I46, similar to the actuators s4 and 80, which is secured at its lower end by means of a rivet I48 to an adjusting pin I50- rotatab1y mounted in the bracket I42. The pin I50 is provided with a head I52 which forms a ratchet that cooperates with a spring pawl I53, similar to the pawl 54; .Pawl I54 extends through a groove in a" embodiments previously described.

zontal or other position as well.

It 15,0: course, to be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative and'various modia substantially constant force on two relatively movable objects as they aremoved :toward'or away from one another. In the description the terms"upper and lower have been used for convenience. However, it is apparent that the present balancer is not necessarily used in a vertical'position, but may also be located in a hori- Also when the device is used as a window balancer, the bracket I4 or its equivalent may be secured to the window frame and the bracket I0 fixed to the sash.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, it is to be. understood that details of construction may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A balancer adapted to be connected to two relatively movable elements which are a window frame and a window sash slidable therein to balance the weight of said sash comprising in combination, a first and second spaced bracket adapted to be connected respectively to said two relatively movable elements, a tubular member mounted on said first bracket for axial rotation with respect thereto, a coiled spring effectively connected at one end to said tubular member and eflectivelyconnected at its other end to said second bracket, a torsion-adjusting member associated with said second bracket and mounted for rotation with respect thereto, a spiral actuator fixed at one end to said adjusting member and extending into said tubular member, said tubular member being provided with internally projectingportions forming a key-way engaged by said spiral actuator, and a detent on said bracket held in resilient contact with a portion of said bracket adapted to be connected to said window frame and window sash respectively, a tubular member mounted on said first bracket for axial rotation with respect thereto, a coiled spring surrounding said tubular member andspaced therefrom, one end of said spring being connected to said tubular member near its point of attachment to said first bracket and the other end of said spring being effectively connected to said .second bracket, a torsion-adjusting member associated with said second bracket and mounted for rotation with respect thereto, a spiral actuator fixed at one end to said adjusting member and extending into said tubular member, said tubular member being provided with internally projecting portions forming a key-way engaged by said spiral actuator, and a detent on said bracket held in resilient contact with said torsionadjusting member said spiral actuator comprising two spiral sections wound in opposite sense.

3. A spring balancer adapted to beconnect'ed to two relatively movable elements which are a window frame and a window sash slidable therein to balance the weight of said sash comprising in combination, a first and second spaced bracket adapted to be connected respectively to said two relatively movable elements, a tubular member mounted at one end on said first bracket for axial rotation with respect thereto, a coiled spring surr ng said tubular member and spaced therefrom, one, end of said coiled spring being connected to said tubular member near its point of attachment to said first bracket and the other end of said coiled spring being effectively connected to said second bracket, a torsion-radjusting pin rotatably mounted in said second bracket anda spiral actuator fixed at one end to saidadj usting pin and extending through said spring and into said-tubular member, said tubular member being provided with internally projecting portions to form a key-way. engaged by said spiral actuator said adjusting pin having a ratchet portion and said second bracket, having a pawl mounted thereonand engaging said ratchet por tion oi the adjusting pin.

4. Abalancer adapted to be connected to two relatively movable elements which are a window frame andv a window sash slidable therein to balance the weight of said sash comprising in combination, a first and second spaced bracket adapted to be connected respectively to said two relatively movable elements, a tubular member mounted atone end on said first bracket for axial rotation with respect thereto, a coiled spring surrounding said tubular member and spaced therefrom, one end of said spring being connected to said'tubular member near its point :of attachment. to said first bracket and the other end of said spring being efiectively' connected to said second bracket, a torsion-adjusting pin rotatably mounted in said second bracket, a collar fixed to said adjusting pin and located within said other end of said spring to position it, a springretaining member mounted on said second bracket to retain said other end of said spring in fixed relation with respect to said bracket independently of movement of said adjusting pin, a spiral actuator fixed at one endto said adjusting pin and extending into said tubular'member, said tubular member being provided with internally projecting portions forming'a key-way engaged by said spiral actuator said adjusting pin having a ratchet portion and said second bracket having a pawl mounted thereon and engagingsaid ratchet portion.

5. A balancer for slidable window'sash which includes a tube having a key-way at itslower end; a coil spring secured tosaid tube and surrounding said tube, means securing the other end of said spring to a window sash, a spiral actuator attached to saidrsash and extending through, said key-way into said tube, abracket adaptedtobe secured to a window, frame, a spring adapter secured to the upper endof said tube, a shaft rotatably supporting said adapter and tube on said bracket, and means preventing the rotation of said actuator.

6. A balancer for slidablewindow sash which includes a tube having a, key-way at its lower end, a coil spring secured to said. tube at one of, itsends and surrounding. said tube,,means securing the other end of said spring to a window sash, a spiral actuator attached to said sash and extending through said key-way into said tube, means rotatably supporting the upper end of said tube and spring, a bracket adapted to be secured to said window sash, a pin rotatably adjustable in said'bracket, a spring adapter surrounding said pin, means for securing said pin, adapter, and the lower end of said actuator together, and means for maintaining said pin in various positions of adjustment.

7. A balancer adapted to be connected to two relatively movabl elements whichare a window frame and a window sash slidable therein to balance the weight of said sash comprising in combination, a first and second spaced bracket adapted to be connected respectively to said two relatively movable elements, a tubular member mounted at one end on said first bracket for axial rotation with respect thereto, a coiled spring surrounding said tubular member and spaced therefrom, one end of said spring being connected to said tubular member near its point of attachment to said first bracket and the other end of said spring being efiectively connected to said second bracket, and a spiral actuator effectively secured at one end to said second bracket and extending into said tubular member, said tubular member being provided with internally projecting portions forming a key-way engaged by said spiral actuator, torsion-adjusting means interposed between said spiral actuator and said second bracket for adjusting the torsion of said spring, said torsion-adjusting means comprising a torsion-adjusting pin rotatably mounted in said second bracket and connected to said spiral actuator, a ratchet formed on one end of said adjusting pin and a pawl mounted onsaid second bracket and resiliently engaging said ratchet portion.

8. A balancer adapted to be connected to two relatively movable elements which are a window frame and a window sash slidable therein to balance the weight of said sash comprising in combination, a firstand second spaced bracket adapted to be connected respectively to said two relatively movable elements, a tubular member mounted at one end on said firstbracket for axial rotation with respect thereto, a coiled spring surrounding said tubular member and spaced therefrom, one end of said spring being connected to said tubular member near its point of attachment-to said first bracket and the other end of said spring being efiectively connected to said second bracket, and a spiral actuator effectively secured at one end to said second bracket and extending into said tubular member, said tubular member being provided with internally projecting portions forming a key-way engaged by said spiral actuator, torsion-adjusting means interposed between said spiral actuator and said second bracket for adjusting the torsion of said spring said torsion-adjusting means comprising a member fixed to the spiral actuator and having a recess, a projection formed on said second bracket and normally engaging said recess and spring means for urging said projection into said recess.

9. A balancer as claimed in claim 8 and wherein the spring means is an auxiliary coiled spring surrounding th spiral actuator and effectively fixed thereto at one end and bearing at its other end against said second bracket.

EDMUND PEREMI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,864,745 Larson June 28, 1932 2,426,915 Peremi et a1 Sept. 2, 1947 2,477,069 Larson July 26, 1949 2,577,953 DeVries et al Dec. 11, 1951 2,580,705 Tappan Jan. 1, 1952 2,604,655 Peremi July'29, 1952 

